Review: From the Ashes by Daisy Harris

From the Ashes (Fire and Rain #1) by Daisy Harris
Samhain Publishing
Novel: 259pgs
3-3.25 Pants Off

Blurb:
Fire and Rain, Book 1

When an accident burns down Jesse’s apartment, he’s left broke and homeless, with a giant dog and a college schedule he can’t afford to maintain. And no family who’s willing to take him in.

Lucky for him, a sexy fireman offers him a place to stay. The drawback? The fireman’s big Latino family lives next door, and they don’t know their son is gay.

Tomas’s parents made their way in America with hard work and by accepting help when it was offered, so he won’t let Jesse drop out of school just so he can afford a place to live. Besides, Jesse’s the perfect roommate—funny, sweet and breathtakingly cute. He climbs into Tomas’s bed and tugs at his heart. Until Jesse starts pushing for more.

Their passion enflames their bodies but threatens to crush Tomas’s family. Tomas is willing to fight for Jesse, but after losing everything, Jesse isn’t sure he can bear to risk his one remaining possession—his heart.

Review
I am having a hard time with rating this book or even telling how I actually feel about it. I was really excited to read this one, so my expectations were high and somehow I can't help feel like it under performed. I had a hard time really getting into the characters and sometimes scenes would seem a little pointless (IMO).

Jesse was just doing a bit of grocery shopping, but instead of packing away his groceries he's watching his home burn to the ground. The few things he had just went up in a pile of flames and the reality that he's homeless just hasn't hit home. With his little job at a coffee shop and school fees, Jesse is barely making ends meet. Now he's got no place to live, no family to depend on, and no friends to call. Shit seems more hopeless as the ashes settle. Upside is that there is a fireman that is going above and beyond his duty to care for Jesse. All his kindness is a little suspicious but without the help Jesse would probably crumble and fall just like his burning home.

Tomas can't understand all his feels for the sad looking kid. But he finds himself wanting to care for him and help him out. Could be that Jesse looks like the kids (his word) that usually end up on their knees blowing him but he's never wanted to take one home before. Yes, he's attracted to the boy but his offer for help is sincere and he makes that clear. Suddenly he's offering up his home and inviting Jesse to stay while fighting a hell of an attraction. But Tomas can't be gay, he just can’t not with his family, not with his job, and it’s most definitely not alright with him. If only...

A part of me liked this book but the other part was really excited when it ended. Tomas and Jesse are alright enough characters, but they're chemistry was lacking and overall too many fluffy feels. I felt like this one should have been heavy on the angst but somehow it was just too sweet. What I enjoyed the most was Tomas's hang-ups when it came to sex. Sex with men has always been a seedy affair for him, so finally doing it with someone he cared about really put him in a bad place. It was both understandable and equally foolish but I enjoyed it.

Another dislike was the unnecessary characters that mostly felt like fillers instead of supporting characters. For instance Tomas's brother Diego, he was both unnecessary and annoying. Jesse's friends kinda fall into the same category and were just there. Again, I was hoping to like this one a lot but kudos on the interracial love I always appreciate them.

Should You Read It? If you're a fan of Daisy Harris and want to read about a hot fireman, for me it was just "ok" somewhere between a 3 and a 3.25 rating but as I said, I have mixed feelings about this one and found it a bit difficult to rate. Cover be amazing though!

Review: Townie and the Twink by Daisy Harris

Townie and the Twink (Men Of Holsum College #3) by Daisy Harris
Siren Publishing
Novella: 122pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Insightful to a fault, Gabe Ashton knows Nick Flynn’s gay even if Nick doesn’t. And after seeing how the townie looks at his "buddy," Gabe knows Nick is in love with a guy who’ll never love him back. So Gabe invites Nick to campus parties and to hang out with new people. But soon their friendship turns physical, and Gabe wonders if he’s in just as much denial as Nick is.

Nick’s straight—or so he’s always assumed. But he can’t deny that the things he’s doing with Gabe are hot. More than that, he likes Gabe in a way he’s never liked anyone else. Well, anyone else except his high school friend, John.

The hardest thing to give up is a fantasy, and the hardest thing to face is the truth. But if Nick wants the man standing in front of him, he’ll have to give up the one he never had.

Review:
I do believe this book is my absolute favourite so far. The plot behind this one might be a little played and over used, but I did find myself enjoying Nick and Gabe. Also, there was something very innocent and engaging about their budding friendship.

Gabe believes he can figure things out in a person long before they figure it out for themselves. That is how he knows Nick a guy from one of his classes is gay and jonesing for his best-friend. As Gabe expected Nick is in denial about his true feelings, and is totally trying to pull the straight card.

Nick has no idea what this Gabe guy wants from him, but he suddenly finds himself spending a lot more time with him. Knowing Gabe is gay doesn’t really bother him, and having him close in more than a friendship way doesn’t bother him either. So when he finds himself having sexual feelings for Gabe, Nick does not think too much about because it’s totally “not in a gay way”.

I found Townie and the Twink really interesting, and just couldn’t put it down. Gabe and Nick are fascinating; they had me thinking away from the whole gay/straight, and just the attractions that come when you truly like a person regardless of their gender. I liked Nick a lot, though sometimes his thinking was stupid it sure was entertaining. Gabe, I found sweet and my heart was breaking for him a little by the end.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and this series is fast becoming a fave of mine. I really enjoy the uniqueness of each character; none of them so far have been alike. I look forward to reading the next book.

SideNote- I freaking dislike the cover with a passion. I would not be surprised if people avoided this story for the cover alone. It’s just so bad that I sit and stare it and think “What The Fuck” happened here?

4 Pants Off

Review: Diva and the Frat Boy by Daisy Harris

Diva and the Frat Boy (Men of Holsum College #2) by Daisy Harris
Siren Publishing
Short Story: 98pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Nathaniel Reece is savvy and fierce and wouldn’t give boring-ass Greg Sanders the time of day, except Greg is the president of a fraternity Nathaniel wants to join. But once Nathaniel gets a taste of the ferocity under Greg’s cool exterior, he can’t stop himself from trying to lure the uptight frat brother out of his shell.

The face of gay life on campus and a crusader heading off to law school, Greg doesn’t see any problem with seducing the flamboyant and exciting Nathaniel. But that’s before he finds out his fraternity brothers are refusing Nathaniel's pledge bid. Greg’s athletic and masculine and has never had to deal with the censure of his friends or the odd looks of strangers, but if he’s going to be what Nathaniel needs, he’ll have to be comfortable not just being out, but also standing out.

Review:
Nathaniel is super flamboyant and never leaves a doubt that he is gay. He’s loud and proud and people can suck it if they don’t like it. He’s pledging for a gay fraternity on campus that’s very conservative, so he makes everyone around him a bit uncomfortable. Then there is Greg, he’s hot enough *maybe* but he is all just a little too good for Nathaniel.

Greg is the president of the gay frat on campus, so he doesn’t exactly hide who he is. He’s going to be lawyer, he’s all athletic and if you didn’t know he was gay, you would call him straight. He has never once had to face prejudice because of his sexuality, and that’s the way he likes it. So Greg can’t understand why Nathaniel doesn’t try to tone it down. He is wildly attracted to the man, but doesn’t want his frat boys to know it. Well he can’t deny the pull of Nat for long, and the boys end up having some incredible loving.

At first, it’s all about sex and good times, but Greg is wanting more and Nat isn’t sure he can give it to him. It becomes obvious in the things Greg says and does that he might not be willing to handle or accept everything that Nathaniel is. Their interaction both intimate and with other people really sets the tone and creates a wonderful contrast between our main characters. Can two people make it, when they are unwilling to accept everything about the opposite person?

I think the author really stirs the pot with this story, by shedding light on the prejudice and stereotypes that can be found in the gay community. Classifying someone as being too gay. How can a person be too gay? I think just the overall attraction to the same sex makes you gay, unless it’s the undying need to have a cock up your ass ‘too gay’. I can understand being too crazy by putting fireworks in your pants, but being too gay never quite made sense to me.

I really liked Nathaniel, and I am so happy the author shed light on the many sides of him. There’s never a single story to a person, and because he likes his sequin tops, and lip-gloss didn’t really truly tells us who he is. My ire was all with Greg! Desperately seeking a relationship with Nat, but yet not being happy with how he presented to himself. I feel like he didn’t deserve him, but I could understand him.

Overall, I really liked it to pieces and enjoyed a lot more than the previous books. Especially glad it was also interracial, I am so biased to the IRL. Now I am really looking forward to continuing the series.

4 Pants Off

Review: College Boys by Daisy Harris

College Boys (Men of Holsum College #1) by Daisy Harris
Siren Publishing
Novella: 115pgs
3.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
When soccer star Chris Fischer moves next door to an openly gay classmate, he doesn't realize the wall between their rooms will be so thin he'll hear his neighbor's every move. But soon he and Peter become friends, and Chris is intrigued—imagining what happens on the other side of the wall.

Active on the Queer Student Council, Peter Cohen wishes he wasn't so damn hot for his straight neighbor. He can't tell if Chris is flirting or in denial or what, but Chris's innocent overtures lure Peter into flirtation that throws his world into chaos. Peter doesn't want to date a closet case, but he desperately, passionately wants Chris.

Soon Chris must choose whether to run away from his new feelings or embrace a relationship with the guy he loves. And Peter must decide if he can give his heart to a guy who hasn't yet figured it all out.


Review:
Chris Fischer has just moved to a new dorm to get away from the bustling of his old dorm while dealing with the death of his mother. As much as he appreciates the caring from friends and teammates he just wants silence and to get away. His new and very tiny room is exactly the solitude he needs; only thing the walls are thin and he can hear every sound coming from his neighbour.

Peter has had a huge crush on Chris since they shared a brief bromance a while back, all snugly under the stars. Now is crush his closer than he ever thought possible, and they begin a tentative friendship, Which changes when Chris gets an audio show to Peter’s happy alone time, and he finds that he really likes listening in. Thus begins playtime through the walls, but all this fun could cause a whole lot of awkward with a very gay Peter and Chris the straight jock.

Off the bat, this book had me at straight jock because it always gets me excited in my pants. I loved Chris’s conflicting emotions while he played with Peter through the walls. I also enjoyed Peter, his fear of being rejected in the end but unwilling to deny to his crush.

I think what made it truly special for me was the realistic feeling Chris portrayed. He’s afraid of becoming an outcast but he is willing to stand beside his friend, because without all the sexual content and growing feelings Peter is his friend.

Some small things kept this one from being a solid four. The pacing and writing was well done, but close to the ending, it all felt very rushed. Chris easy breezy acceptance of being attracted to a man was too quick. His feelings before was so strong, and then boom he’s cool with it all. I am glad Peter was spared the pain but… I wanted more. I also do not like the word ‘fapping’ it annoys me. I saw it an eye roll numerous came out. Seriously fapping?

Overall, I liked the story and really look forward to reading the rest in the series. I enjoy the authors writing style, it’s very fun, quirky, and made me smile.

3.5 Pants Off